Stark-effect in a violet region of the secondary spectrum of hydrogen

Abstract

Simultaneously with his examination of the effect of electric fields on the Balmer series in hydrogen, Stark observed some general characteristics of the secondary spectrum. In the latter he noted the comparatively small displacements, which were proportional to the square of the field; the lack of symmetry in the splitting; and an apparently general irregularity in the effect. The work was extended by Takamine and Yoshida, Nitta, and Takamine and Kokubu, whose observations included effects on a total of 54 lines. Kiuti has recently used much higher fields in a far more extensive investigation embracing effects throughout the entire visible spectrum. He found regularities in two groups, each composed of three lines. The members of each group were split in like manner and the original lines were accompanied by “satellites” which were displaced toward the violet without any observed splitting. Within each Fulcher band the displacements were, as a rule, alternately large and small. The bands were further marked by a great increase in intensity for high fields.